The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-12-21
CORRUPT CONTRACTS.
A Few Delightful Specimens Of Simon
Pure EhandlarfAuA


Pure Chamberlain
Mr.. Chandler, the last of the Repub-
lican Secretaries of the Navy, gets
back to Washington just in time to
answer from his seat in the Senate
some very pertinent questions on the
administration of the affairs of that
department.. 1t may be remembered
that when the case of the Dolphin was
under discussion, Mr.. Robson kindly
volunteered to put his oarin through
the columns of the New York Tribune
and to indulge in some very foolish re-
marks on the manner in which his
Democratic successor conducted the
department. Mr.. Chandler, when in
charge Of the department., awarded the
contracts for building three steel
cruisers, Chicago, Atlanta and Boston
and the dispatch boat Dolphin to his
favorite contractor. who had been also
the favorite of the enterprising Robe
son. The contracts provided that pay
ment should be made by the United
States in ten equal installments as the
work progressed, with reservation
of ten per cent. for each installment.
When all the conditions, covenants
and provisions Of the contracts had
been performed by the contractor, he
became entitled within ten days after
the fling and acceptance of his claim,
to receive the aggregate amount of
the reservations from the respective
payments which had been made during
the progress of the work. A few
weeks before the advent of the
Democratic administration. there was
paid to the contractor, of the
reservations on the three steel cruisers,
the sum If $155, 800, at which time
none of the cruisers had been finished.
The contracts were thus stripped of
the security which by their terms was
provided. The assignment OF the con-
tractor left the Government no other
course but to take the vessels and COM
plete them.
Now comes the disagreeable intelli.
gence that the first of these cruisers
which had been subjected to the neces-
sary tests is unseaworthy and can
neither fight nor run away. The evil
dence is supplied by the officer who
may be supposed to know the most
about her qualities, her commander,
Captain Bunce. Admiral Gherardi, in
commenting on this startling report,
says that the contractor was not to
blame, as he built the vessel according
to designs prescribed by the Govern
ment. Therefore the responsibility of
the defective construction of the At
lanta, and it will probably be found to
be the same with her two sister ships,
| rests upon the shoulders of ex-Secre-
tary, now Senator Chandler. 1t would
appear as if every thing connected
with the administration of the Navy
Department under Republican auspices
bore the evidences offraud, negligence
or Encouragement. When Mr.. Chan
dler takes his seat in the United States
Senate, the country will be very de-
sirous to hear from him on this ques-
| ton. The fact is evident that Secre-
tary Whitney has had more trouble in
endeavoring to repair the plumbers, to
use mild expression, OF his predeces-
sor than he has in carrying out his
own comprehensive designs in giving
the country navy worthy of it When
that navy is completed it will be found
to be the work solely of Democratic
management, brains and honesty.
|-Albany On ~ argus.